Young Union
| Young Union | |
|---|---|
| Chairperson | Philipp Mißfelder |
| Treasurer | Daniel Walther |
| Ideology | Christian Democracy Conservatism |
| International affiliation | International Young Democrat Union |
| European affiliation | Youth of the European People's Party |
| Website | junge-union.de |
The Junge Union Deutschlands (Young Christian Democrats) or JU is the joint youth organisation of the two conservative German political parties CDU and CSU.[1] To be a member one has to be between 14 and 35 years old.
Philosophy
In its manifesto the JU defines itself as an organization that aims at increasing awareness about the CDU/CSU's political goals among the youth. The JU also aims at representing the interests of the youth within the CDU/CSU parties. In its platform, it defines itself as a catch-all liberal, progressive, but conservative-leaning organization. Its policies are based on the Christian view of Man and his responsibility before God. The JU advocates democracy and Social market economy. It supports the European integration and a strong partnership with the United States within the framework of the NATO. The Junge Union backs the modernization of the political agenda within its mother parties. One central objective is a consequent reform of the public social security system which is confronted by an increasing dependency ratio. The JU upholds intergenerational equity in the areas of pension and health care system reforms, which shall aim at complementing them with capital-based private accounts in order to address fiscal problems such as Germany's debt-to-GDP ratio. Through labor-market liberalization, the JU aims at addressing unemployment. The JU supports university tuition fees, and the Center Against Expulsions in Berlin.
In foreign policy, the JU upholds the German-American security alliance, and has called for Germany to take part in the War against Iraq. Rejecting Turkey's full membership, however, the JU prefers Turkey having a privileged partnership with the EU.
In energy policy, the JU opposes an immediate phase-out of nuclear energy.
Well-known former members of the Junge Union
- Helmut Kohl
- Edmund Stoiber
- Roland Koch
- Christian Wulff
- Günther Oettinger
- Stefan Mappus
- Volker Kauder
- Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg
- Wolfgang Schäuble
- Peter Müller
Chairpersons
- Bruno Six (1947-1948)
- Alfred Sagner (1948-1949)
- Josef Hermann Dufhues (1949-1950)
- Ernst Majonica (1950-1955)
- Gerhard Stoltenberg (1955-1961)
- Bert Even (1961-1963)
- Egon Klepsch (1963-1969)
- Jürgen Echternach (1969-1973)
- Matthias Wissmann (1973-1983)
- Christoph Böhr (1983-1989)
- Hermann Gröhe (1989-1994)
- Klaus Escher (1994-1998)
- Hildegard Müller (1998-2002)
- Philipp Mißfelder (2002- )
International relations
The JU is member of the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP), an umbrella organisation of Christian Democratic and conservative youth organisations of Europe. It works closely together with all European partner organisations but has traditionally strong ties to the neighbouring Junge Österreichische Volkspartei (JVP), youth organisation of the Austrian People's Party.
References
- ^ Philipp Mißfelder (editor): 60 Jahre Junge Union Deutschlands, Berlin 2007 ISBN 978-3-923632-06-0
External links
- Junge Union - Official site (German)
- Philipp Mißfelder - Official site of the current JU chairman (German)
- Youth of the European People's Party - Official site (English)
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